Fish lure



( Jan. 28, E. L oT- FISH LURE Filed Feb. 28, 1955 Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The general purposes of my invention are to combine in a casting spoon novel features which not only make the device more effective as a fish lure, but which also impart definite character- I istics to the movements of the spoon when in use and make it more convenient to use than other devices that have preceded it.

Another object of my invention is to combine such features in a novel way as an integral part of the spoon so there may be greater economy in their manufacture.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my new device, with the spoon slightly tilted on the side and concave surface downward, showing the vari ous features of the device. The spoon thus shown is inverted from its position -in actual use to better illustrate its features in detail.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the inverted spoon illustrated in Figure 1 showing particularly the tongue displaced from the slot at the rear end of the spoon forming the blade attaching means,

and the blade.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Figure 5, showing the inverted V-shaped guide for the weed guard.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 5, showing the slotted rear end of the spoon with depending tongue for attaching the blade.

0.". Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the concave surface of the spoon showing the placement of the slot in the rear end of the spoon, the shank of the hook and means for securing it to the spoon, the Weed guard and means for sei curing it to the spoon, and guide for such guard.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the essential features of my invention are the concavoconvex body of the spoon, with its greatest lateral enlargement near its rear end, and tapering toward its forward or front end, with an aperture I or other usual means for securing the line 2 to such tapered end.

Immediately adjacent its rear end the spoon is slotted in the center, the slot 3 being of elongated character and providing an aperture for insertion of the shank 4 of the hook from the convex side of the spoon through and along its concave surface.

The portion of the spoon punched from itsbody to form the slot 3 is integral with the forward end 9; of such slot, and with the spoon in its position of use depends at an angle of approximately degrees from the convex surface of the spoon to form the tongue 5.

The tongue 5 includes an aperture adjacent its .?13 free end which provides means whereby the blade member 5, usually termed a spinner, may be attached. This blade may be of the revolving spinner type, secured to the tongue 5 with the usual type of swivel, but I have found it particu- 60 larly helpful when used as a feature of my invention if it is affixed to the tongue as shown in Figures 1 and 2 so that instead it has a side to side, or flopping, motion.

Its placement on the tongue also gives my device a distinct advantage over prior spoons of 5 this general character in that it leaves the hook free, and makes it possible to substitute any one of a variety of hooks without changing or otherwise manipulating the spinne In this way the hook is left free for the placing thereon of pork 10 rind, the spinner and rind thus being concurrently used without interference with each other.

In its position as an extension above the plane of the spoon itself, the tongue 5 and spinner 6 have a definite stabilizing effect upon the move- 15 ments of the spoon, and prevent it from revolving completely regardless of the speed at which the spoon is retrieved, but at the same time allow a side to side wobbling motion which is attractive to game fish. This, together with the g0 flashing movement of a brightly polished metal spinner has been found a most effective lure.

In the position shown the spinner 6 is also held out of the way of the striking fish, leaving the hook 4 free and ready to engage and hold 25 the fish fast, and yet close enough to be an attraction causing fish to strike.

As the shank of the hook is inserted through the slot 3 in the rear end of the spoon it is secured to the concave surface of the spoon as 30 shown in Figures 1 and 5 so that the barb 1 is held in position opposite such concave surface and midway its side edges. This I have accomplished by means of the eyelet 8 on the end of the shank 4 and the screw 9 threaded into the spoon. The slot 3 also has a definite function in that, being of elongated character as shown, and extending to immediately adjacent the rear end of the spoon, it serves as a guide and steadying medium for the hook, keeping it from moving to either side away from the center of the spoon.

As shown in perspective in Figure 1, the weed guard l0, which is made of spring material, extends from its attachment to the spoon, which attachment may consist of an eyelet on the shank 45 and screw means threaded into the spoon as heretofore referred to in connection with the hook, to the barb 1. However, I have provided an inverted V-shaped guide II for the guard lll which prevents side to side movement thus keeping the guard in alignment with the barb 1, and at the same time controls the tension of the weed guard l0 against the barb 1.

This tension is created by disposing the eyelet of the weed guard ll! at an angle 12 to its shank, so that when the guard is secured to the spoon by said eyelet the shank extends angularly therefrom. When the arc of the angle 12 is increased, as by forcing the shank of the guard Hi toward the spoon until it tends to assume a position substantially inlline'with the eyelet, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tension holds it against fthe inverted Vin the guide ll. Additional tentinguishedfromthe point in'suc'h are where the inverted v shaped member II is located.

sion may be created by placing the'guard attachinglmeans at an advanced point along the arc of the spoon toward its forward end as dis- 7 This 'V-shaped guide 4 I is formed by slotting; the spoonas shown in Figures 1, 3, and 5, and

r punching the portion between such slots to form? the-.ir' verted V'-shap'ed member J1, shownin 1 Figures 1 and 3, and fixed in relation to the guard attaching means'so. that the guard restsagainst the barb. The tension. on the guard isthereby concentratedat the apex of the V-shaped guide II and acting in'cooperati on with the centering tursq th de 1! ad s re fl 'wi Q H .fliciency. 1

;Having thus de scribed my invention, claim; 1. A casting spoonof concave-convex configuration; meansjfor'securing a line to the forward end thereof, an elongated longitudinal. slot in f the centerof and terminating immediately adjacent the edge of the. rear end thereof, a tongue integral with ,said'ispoon atthe forward end of 1 said slotand angularly extending from the con.-

vex surface of said spoon, and means for securing aspinner, on saidtongue,

,2. A castingspoon 0f concave-convex configuration, meansforsecuring a'lineto the forward *gral withsaid spoon at the forward endof. said slotand angularly extending from the convex end thereof, an elongated longitudinal slot in the centerxof; and terminatingiimmediately adjacent the edge of, the rear end thereof, a tongue intesurface of said spoon,a hook rigidly secured by: the shank to the concave" surface of said spoon and extending through said slot, and means for '40" securing a spinner on said tongue. 7 a

3. A casting spoon of concavo-convex configuration having itsgreatest lateral enlargement near its rear end and tapering to its forward end, means for securingja line to said forward 45 end, an elongated longitudinal slot in'the center of and terminatinginmiediately adjacent the,

edge of said rear end, a tongue integral with'said spoon at the forward end of said slot and angu- I N larly extendingfrom the convex surface of said rear end, and 'means for securing 'a spinner to; said tongue. v V I V r r I :l. A casting spoon of concavo-convex configuration having its greatest lateral enlargement" near its rear'end and tapering toits forward end,

means for'securing'a line to said forward end, an

- elongated longitudinal slot in the center of and terminating immediately adjacent the edge of said rear end, a tongue integral with said spoon at theforward end of said slot and angularly extendingifrorn the convex surface of said rear I end, means in alignment with said slot for securing'a hook shank to the concave surface of said spoon, and means for securing a spinner on'said tongue. 6

5. A casting spoon of concavo convex configu ration having its greatest lateral "enlargement nearitsrear end anditapering to its forward end, means for securing a lineto said forward end, an

.elo'ngatedlongitudinal 'slot' infthe center of and terminating immediately adjacent the edge of 7 'said rear end, a tongue integral with'saidispoon at the forward end of said'slot and angularly extending from the convex surface of said rear end,

a hook rigidly secured by "theshank totheconguard.

cave surface of said spoon and extending through said slot, and means for securing a spinner on, 7

said tongue. I

6. A fish lurepcomprising in combination a concave-convex spoon having its greatest lateral enlargement near its rear endand tapering to its forward end, means for securing a line to said ffor'warduend, an elongated longitudinal slot' in V I the center of said rear end, a tongue secured to said'spoon at the forward end of said slot and said spoon and having, its barb opposite the concave" surface thereof, means; for securing a spinner onsaid tongue and movably: free from said hook, and-a spinner secured-to said tongue;

7. A fish lure, comprising?"infcombination a c vex spoon having'its greatest laterall.

enlargement l'learits rear end and taperii'lg to'it s for-ward end, means for s'ec'uring a. ,line to said '10 angularlyextending from the convex surface of A said rear end, a hook secured by the shank .to'

forward end, an elongated longitudinal slot in the center of said rear end, a: tongue secured to 'said sDQOnat the forward end, of. said slot and angularly extending'fromthe convex surface of i said rear end, a hook secured by the shank'to said spoon and having its barb opposite the concave surface thereof, meansfor securing a spinner on 7 said extending tongue and movably free from said cavo-convex spoon ,havingits greatest lateral enlargement near its rear end and tapering to its forward end, means for securing 'a line to said forward end, an elongated longitudinal slot in the center of said rear end, a tongue secured to said spoon at the forwardendof said slot and angu 'larlyextending from the convex surface of said rear end,;-a' hook having its 'shank' inserted through said slot inwardly upon the concave surface of said spoon'and the barn thereof beingopposite said concave surface, means for securing saidshank to said spoom-means for securing a V spinneron said tongue and movablyfree from 9; A fish lure, comprising incombinttion a concave-convex spoon having its" greatest lateral enlargement near its rear end and tapering to its forward end, means for securing a line to said forward end, an elongated longitudinal slot in the center of said rear end, a tongue secured to said' spoon at the forwardend of said slotand angularly extendingfromthe convex surface of said rear end, a hook having its shank' inserted through said slot inwardly upon'the concave surface'of said spoon and thebarb thereof being opf posite said concave surface, means for securing" said shankto said spoon, means for'se'curinga spinner on said'tongue and movably free from said hook, a spinner secured to said tongue, a,

single-wire weed guard extending from the forward portion of said spoon to said hook, means for securing the forward end of said guard to the surface of said spoon, and a guide for saidguard comprising an inverted V-shaped strip formed by transverse slits insaid spoonand straddling said said hook, and a spinner secured to said tongue. 

